Moore gets opportunity to impress

Alan Moore can make some timely points to the Irish management team when he plays for the B team against a National League XI at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray this evening (7.30).

Moore, one of the first of the new generation of players to be introduced by Mick McCarthy back in the spring of 1996, hasn't figured in Ireland's senior team since the scoreless draw with Iceland at Lansdowne Road in November of that year.

Now, after a series of injury problems and an unrewarding loan spell at Barnsley, the Middlesbrough player has much to prove when he joins Steve Finnan, Gareth Whalley and newcomer Matt Holland in an interesting midfield formation.

It will be a big occasion, too, for Sunderland central defender Paul Butler who, like Holland, has been given the opportunity of staking his claim for higher honours after establishing his credentials to play for Ireland.

David Worrall of Blackburn will play at right back and Neil Fenn, a member of the talented team which finished third in the World Under-20 championship in Malaysia two years ago, partners Daryl Clare up front.

Dave Barry's hopes of marking his first assignment as manager of the National League team with a good performance have been hit by a spate of injuries which will deprive him of some obvious rallying points. Missing are first-choice central defenders Colin Hawkins and Pat Scully. Packie Lynch, drafted in as a replacement for Scully on Sunday evening, is also on the injured list after damaging an ankle in St Patrick's FAI Cup win over UCD. Out, too, is Finn Harps midfielder Tom Mohan.

Barry will name his team just before kick-off.